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Mixed fortunes for Brown clan

It was a day of mixed fortunes for the Brown clan with the Scotland squad in South Africa. Captain and back-row forward Kelly became the third player to be ruled out of the tour following fellow forwards Pat MacArthur and Geoff Cross.

The ankle injury he sustained against Samoa means he will be heading home. He departed at half-time in Durban and underwent a scan in Nelspruit yesterday.

Scotland team lead physiotherapist Paul McGinley said: “Kelly has a notable ankle injury. He had a scan at a local clinic which indicates ligament damage. He will now be returned to the care of his club medical team at Saracens as he would be unable to play again on the rest of the tour.”

However, flying in the opposite direction is Fraser Brown (pictured above), the Glasgow Warriors hooker, who is scheduled to arrive tomorrow (Wednesday) in the Scots’ camp in Nelspruit, where they are preparing for Saturday’s Test against South Africa.

Hooker Brown, who celebrates his 24th birthday next week, is a former Scotland under-20 captain who returned to rugby via Heriot’s and the Scotland 7s squad after he had been troubled by injury earlier in his career, during which he played at Merchiston Castle School and at the Biggar and Watsonians clubs and with Edinburgh Rugby.

Brown earned a contract with Glasgow Warriors for the coming season having been part of the Warriors’ Heineken Cup squad this past season and having impressed during appearances off the bench in the RaboDirect PRO12.

Kelly Brown told www.scottishrugby.org: “I’m very disappointed to be heading home but I wish the boys all the best and I’m sure they will do well in the final two games of the tour.”

In an interview with www.glasgowwarriors.org Fraser Brown said: “It’s a bit unreal to be honest. A few months ago I was playing in the RBS Premier Division for Heriot’s and now I’ve been called up to the Scotland squad. I’m immensely proud and hugely excited.”

Meanwhile, the Scotland medical team continues to treat those players who sustained injuries at the weekend with backs Tom Heathcote and Alex Dunbar “continuing to progress through the return to play concussion protocol.”